Mold assembly for applying a decorative facing to an article

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for automatically applying, attaching, curing and processing a decorative facing to an article such as a conventional building or other blocks, brick, tile or other kinds of building materials. A plurality of blocks or building materials to receive the facing are transferred to a loading station on an intake block feeder designed to present the blocks in pairs to transfer device or arm which loads the pair of blocks onto a plurality of movable pallets. These pallets are intermittently driven in a carrousel-type arrangement through a plurality of work stations. First the blocks are properly centered on the pallet to receive a mold plate which carries two molds that are filled at another station with an uncured plastic compound. Means are provided to transfer the filled molds to the block and each mold is designed to be self-locking on the pair of blocks. The block and mold combination is thereafter transferred through a unique oven arrangement which systematically cures the plastic material to form the decorative facing on the block. As the blocks continue their intermittent transfer through the system and come out of the oven, the molds are automatically removed and positioned at a filling station for subsequent reuse. The same transfer device which loads the blocks onto the pallets simultaneously, while performing the loading function on another pair of blocks, then unloads the finished blocks onto a take-away conveyor. Other features are disclosed which make the system totally automated, such as a means which makes the system universally adaptable to various sized blocks or other items to which a decorative plastic facing may be applied.

United States Patent [1 1 Nedoh MOLD ASSEMBLY FOR APPLYING A DECORATIVE FACING TO AN ARTICLE Andrew R. Nedoh, 4262 Hametown Rd., Norton, Ohio 44203 [22] Filed: Jan. 7, I974 [2]} Appl. No.:431.l20

Related US. Application Data [76] Inventor:

[58] Field of Search 425/60, 90, 9595. 425/105-l06, H2, 125, I28, 253, 340. 360,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1197.212 4/l94ll Hagemeyer 249/139 3.43|,6()l 3/1969 Lipscomb 249/l20 Primary E.\'u. ninerRobert D. Baldwin Assistant E.\'uminerJohn McQuade Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Hamilton, Renner 81 Kenner I57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a method and apparatus for automatically applying. attaching. curing and processing a decora- 1 Apr. 8, 1975 tive facing to an article such as a conventional building or other blocks. brick, tile or other kinds of building materialsv A plurality of blocks or building materials to receive the facing are transferred to a loading station on an intake block feeder designed to present the blocks in pairs to transfer device or arm which loads the pair of blocks onto a plurality of movable pallets. These pallets are intermittently driven in a carrousel-type arrangement through a plurality of work stations. First the blocks are properly centered on the pallet to receive a mold plate which carries two molds that are filled at another station with an uncured plastic compound. Means are provided to transfer the filled molds to the block and each mold is designed to be self-locking on the pair of blocks. The block and mold combination is thereafter transferred through a unique oven arrangement which systematically cures the plastic material to form the decorative facing on the block. As the blocks continue their intermittent transfer through the system and come out of the oven, the molds are automatically removed and positioned at a filling station for subsequent re-use. The same transfer device which loads the blocks onto the pallets simultaneously while performing the loading function on another pair of blocks. then unloads the finished blocks onto a take-away conveyor. Other features are disclosed which make the system totally automated, such as a means which makes the system universally adaptable to various sized blocks or other items to which a decorative plastic facing may be applied.

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1. A mold assembly for applying a decorative facing to an article comprising, a mold carrying plate, mold means for receiving material to be applied to the article, means connecting said mold means to said mold carrying plate and allowing movement between said mold means and said mold carrying plate, and means to lock said mold means on the article in response to said mold carrying plate moving toward said mold means.
 2. A mold assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mold means includes a base means for receiving the material to be applied to the article and flexible sidewall members to confine the material on said base means, and said means to lock said mold means on the article including means to move said sidewall members in response to the relative movement of said mold means and said mold carrying plate so that said sidewall members grippingly engage the sides of the article, totally enclosing the surface of the article to be decoratively faced and confining the material therein.
 3. A mold assembly according to claim 2 wherein said side wall members overlap to form the corners of the facing material on the article and to further confine the material therein.
 4. A mold assembly according to claim 1 including means on said mold carrying plate to facilitate removal of the mold assembly from the article.
 5. A mold assembly according to claim 1 wherein said means connecting said mold means to said mold carrying plate includes insert means slidably received on counterbored shoulders in apertures in said mold carrying plate, and fastening means attaching said insert means to said mold means so that said insert means can move within the apertures in said mold carrying plate as said mold carrying plate moves with respect to said mold means. 